Best Panini Presses in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update November 13, 2018

Would you like to treat your loved ones with fantastic family meals? If so, we'd recommend you to get a panini press and prepare delicious panini with all kinds of fillings just as often as you like. It will be love at first bite! Look at our panini press review and make your pick!...Read more...Read less

The automatic sensor cooking function allows detecting the number of items, their thickness and size put on the grill surface. The plates at a 7-degree angle channel fat from food into a large drip tray.

CONS

Auto mode requires longer cooking time.

OUR VERDICT

Tefal Panini press stands out for its large grill surface area and high heating capacity. Cooking in this panini press is a fast and easy way to prepare healthy breakfast for a large family. Available in different sizes.

The ceramic plates can be wiped clean with a dampened cloth. A large LCD display lets you set the optimal temperature for different foods.

CONS

A drip tray should be installed separately.

OUR VERDICT

Tower Non-Stick Panini Grill and Griddle will become an indispensable kitchen assistant for those who lack time for cooking and don't want to be tied to the cooker. Tower grill will inform you of the meal readiness with the timer. Choose higher or lower capacity models.

Tefal GC713D40

Automatic Food Preparation

There are a plethora of breakfast sandwich makers on the market. However, the Tefal GC713D40 Panini Press Griddler is different from many of them due to its high functionality and performance. Indeed, this awesome Panini press is designed to make your cooking chores more enjoyable. A large number of automatic and manual settings allows adapting the temperature according to the food to be prepared that makes cooking less fussy and time-consuming. The OptiGrill with Automatic Sensor Cooking automatically adapts the cooking cycle, according to the number of ingredients and their thickness. Prepare your dishes to perfection with 6 cooking programs: Burger, Chicken, Bacon, Sausage, Red Meat, and Fish. As an added benefit, there is a manual mode with 4 temperature settings that enables full control over a panini-making process.

Cook Steaks Like in a Steakhouse

Many of us would love to be virtuous in the kitchen, cooking meat of any doneness degree, however, in spite of how simple the process may seem at first, it does require experience. In this sense, the Tefal Panini Press can be a great purchase because it is not difficult to use and all guides are all there in front of you. Keeping an eye on a Cooking Level Indicator you will always know the exact time when your sandwich is ready and can be served. The cooking programmes will let you set the right temperature for cooking steaks, depending on what kind of meat you'd like to get in the end - rare with blood, medium-rate or well-done. No need to calculate minutes or peer into the unit, this panini press will cook the perfect meat that you will like.

Extremely Durable Plates

The Tefal panini press features durable non-stick die-cast aluminium plates and a large 600cm2 cooking surface, that provides endless cooking options for a large family or a company of friends. Furthermore, the plates have a 7-degree angle edge to allow excess fat from food to drip into a special tray at the bottom of the unit.

Additional Info

George Foreman 20840

Fried Food Could Be Healthy!

It’s common knowledge that people who follow a healthy diet, avoid eating fried food. But you wouldn't need to cut it out of your diet completely if you used the George Foreman 20840 Panini press, compact but useful kitchen gadget for frying food in a healthy way. The George Foreman 20840 will let you remove 42% of fat from the food gathering it in a special tray at the bottom, providing numerous health benefits. Cooking in it is also very fast in spite of its rather average power. Undoubtedly, the George Foreman 20840 is one of the best devices one could get to be able to keep diet and eat favorite French Fries, steaks, roasts, crispy panini, etc. safely. The George Foreman 20840 has a peculiar design too and will surely add to the interior of any modern-style kitchen. When not in use, it can also be stored in the upright position for a space-saving purpose.

Hassle-free Maintenance

Oil-free cooking has become very popular nowadays. And anyone who has ever experimented with oil-free cooking knows how challenging removing food residue can be. In this sense, the George Foreman Panini press is a user-friendly kitchen gadget featuring a simple push-button release mechanism that allows users to remove the grill plates quickly. The plates can be washed in a dishwasher or by hand. The beauty about non-stick cooking surface is that it doesn't require rubbing, and simple rinsing under tap water is enough to wash it off the food. Make sure to use soft detergents only.

Classic Panini Recipe

Today there are a variety of Panini recipes. But the classic Panini is always a hit! So, the following ingredients are needed for two portions:

First, cut bread in half, then dab some mustard on the upper half and season the lower one with vinegar. After that, put Mozzarella, basil leaves, ham, chilli pepper, and tomato (cut into rings) in layers onto the mustard-covered side of the bread. Cover the bottom layer of the bread and finally place your sandwich in the panini press. Now your perfect Panini sandwich is ready to serve!

Additional Info

Russell Hobbs 17888

Pay for One Appliance - Get 2 Cooking Surfaces

If you plan to use your panini press on a regular basis and cook batches of food for your friends and family, then you will need to get a device with a capacious cooking surface. The Russell Hobbs 17888 Panini Press can be the right thing! The appliance opens up flat that doubles your cooking area, allowing you to grill foods on both sides. This is possible owing to the adjustable 180° hinge that allows for grilling sandwiches and paninis of any thickness and placing a large variety of foods on one unit. It’s a real time saver! However, when the Panini press is opened up flat, it cannot reach the same temperature as with the lid closed. The griddle design directs any excess fat into the built-in drip tray, catching all spills. The drip trays are located on both sides of the appliance, that prevents fat drippings and keeps your countertop clean.

Multitasking 3-in-1 Appliance

The Russell Hobbs Panini press can be opened up flat that significantly increases your cooking options. This ultimate kitchen tool can be used as a classic Panini press with the lid closed to cook a variety of sandwiches with those coveted grill marks. Using the appliance as a full griddle allows you to cook bacon, eggs, and delicious French toast for breakfast. Moreover, the Panini press can be used to grill meat without oil. Indeed, this wonderful Panini press is an indispensable appliance in any kitchen. It allows you to prepare delectable recipes to enjoy with your family and friends.

A Useful Tip

What makes the Russell Hobbs 3-in-1 Panini Press different from many other models is its height-adjustable hinge allowing people to place food of different sizes and thickness between the plates with ease. If you love to experiment with the filling, this particular model is what you need.

Additional Info

Cuisinart Griddle and Grill

More Cooking Options With Reversible Plates

Typically, modern Panini presses come with ribbed plates that are easily removable. And the Cuisinart Panini Press Griddler is not an exception. The appliance has pretty much the same design but with one significant difference. This Panini press has a reversible grill and griddle plates. So, use the ribbed grill side for cooking steaks and sandwiches or the flat griddle side for preparing tasty pancakes and vegetables. Thus, you can considerably expand the range of gourmet grilled foods. What is more, the cooking plates are fully removable and dishwasher-safe, which makes cleaning a breeze. On top of that, there is a choice of temperature options for you to select the optimal one, depending on your cooking needs. Maintaining proper internal food temperature is at the core of good cooking. A food thermometer will help you to accurately measure your food's temperature.

How to Make the Best Grilled Vegetables

There are some tips for preparing and cooking delicious healthy vegetables. First of all, rinse vegetables under cold water, then remove the non-edible parts with a knife and drain them on a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. Small vegetables can be grilled whole, while large vegetables are usually cut into pieces. However, some vegetables are still better to grill whole as they can lose their juice, especially tomatoes, which are normally cut in half. Bell peppers are also cut in half lengthwise. Zucchini and guinea pumpkin are cut into pieces on a long diagonal or into rings. However, don’t cut these vegetables into very small pieces to prevent them from drying out or burning. In fact, marinated vegetables taste totally delicious! Prepare the marinade by mixing olive oil, pepper, salt, and herbs. Bon Appetit!

How to Maintain the Appliance?

Since the Cuisinart Panini press has the reversible grill and griddle plates, the manufacturers provided this model with a thermostat dial that allows you to adjust the optimal temperature from 95°C to 230°C, depending on the side and food to be prepared.

Additional Info

Tower RK-T27007

Total Control Over the Cooking Process

There are a number of criteria that are to be taken into account when choosing a Panini press. And usability is one of the key features. The Tower company, the leading British brand of kitchen appliances, has designed the RK-T27007 Panini Grill with usability in mind. The appliance has user-friendly controls on the front of the unit. With a handy LCD display, you can set the optimal temperature for different types of food and adjust the cooking time. The On/Off switch is also located on the control panel. And like most models in this class, the Panini press comes with a built-in tray that collects all excess fat from food. The fat runs off the plates through the grease spout into the drip tray. Additionally, the Panini press has a convenient cool-touch handle, that protects your hands from hot cookware. To keep homemade paninis fresh for a longer time, store them in a bread box that you can also select from our recent reviews.

Extra Durable Material

Those who often use a Panini press, primarily pay attention to the material the appliance is made of. And it surely makes sense, as the material significantly affects the useful service life of the device. The Tower Panini Grill is made of stainless steel that is notable for its corrosion resistance. Moreover, this material withstands extreme environmental conditions, that ensures high durability of the appliance. Besides, the Panini press has ceramic plates that are characterised by quick heat-up and cool-down ability. A non-stick coating helps prevent a residue buildup. What is more, it could not be easier to wipe the plates clean with a wet cloth or sponge.

Maintenance Recommendations

Although, the cooking plates are made of durable material, yet they require proper maintenance. A mild cleaning with no aggressive chemicals is recommended to avoid damaging of a nonstick coating. Thus, refer to the recommendations indicated on the detergent packaging. After your dish is ready, wipe the unit with a damp cloth or sponge.

Additional Info

What is a Panini Press

A panini press is an electric contact grill with a grooved surface that allows toasting and grilling all types of bread in a short time. Sandwiches made in a warming grill come out crispy yet soft, with appetising grill marks on the surface and a mouth-watering smoky flavour. If you’re used to starting your mornings with a mug of tea and a sandwich, a panini press is just what you need. Treat yourself and your dear and near with delicious snacks and unleash your culinary talent to the full.

A much more basic but still useful kitchen gadget that you may want to have on your countertop is a sandwich maker. If you haven't purchased one yet or want to get one as a present to your friend, take a look at our recent review on sandwich makers.

What Features to Compare

Panel Design

Choosing a panini press is easier than you may think, however, some key features should be taken into account. The first thing you should consider when selecting a panini maker is the plate design. There are panini grills with a grooved surface, which creates appetising, toasty grill marks on both sides of sandwiches, chicken fillet or any other food. Indeed, panini presses are ideal for cooking panini itself, meat, fish and most vegetables. The griddle plates have a smooth, flat surface that allows conducting heat directly from the griddle surface to the food item. It’s perfect for preparing grilled cheese sandwiches, pancakes, or scrambled eggs.

Cooking Surface Dimensions

It should be noted that the larger the cooking surface is, the more sandwiches or other foods it can accommodate at a time. Actually, an extra-large cooking surface can be of great value for a large family. If you are looking for a versatile device, it’s worth paying attention to the heating options, namely the ability to adjust the temperature and heat levels. Though, if you need a simple device for preparing panini, an adjustable thermostat is not so important. Besides, a height-adjustable hinge or a floating hinge is also essential since it allows you to grill even the thickest sandwiches evenly. There are models, which can be used as an open toaster for making open-faced sandwiches. There are also panini grills that can open flat backwards up to 180°, that gives a double cooking surface and increase the cooking capacity.

Usability

And finally, you should take a close look at the usability that also depends on the materials used and the dimensions of the device. The indicator lights allow for better control and simplify the cooking process. A tilted grill surface or drain channels allow draining off excess grease and liquid from fried foods for a healthier meal. The drip trays or other grill drip containers are designed to catch extra grease. Those models that come equipped with dishwasher safe removable plates, greatly facilitate clean-up. Furthermore, some manufacturers provide panini presses with special grill cleaning tools. If your kitchen is small you should pay particular attention to grill dimensions as well as the presence of a locking storage clip for upright storage and a cord wrap. A durable housing material provides long-lasting durability of the device. And, nonstick plates will make cleanup much easier and help cook healthier meals.